Circuit interrupter



Jane 10, 1924. A

C. AALBORG I CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERA Filed Jan. 16. 1919 00 000 ol-m] ATT'ORN EY Patented J une 10,-, 19.24.

UNITED gs'ra'rlazs 1,497,424' PMI-:NTy OFFICE.

(l.BIRISTIAN AALIBORG, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING- HOUSE IlIJllCTItIC-: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYL- VANIA.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN AALBORG, a citizen of the United States, anda resi dent of Wilkinsburg, in the countyV of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new' and useful Improvement in Circuit Interrupters, of which the followin is a specification.

y invention relates to circuit interrupters and particularly to arc-blow-out devices therefor.

The object of my invention is to provide an arc-blowout device for a circuit interrupter that shall have means for so centering the arc between 'the top and bottom walls thereof as to prevent injury thereto.

In practicin my invention, I provide an 'arc chute or an interrupter having a front wall of substantially V-shape. A plurality of openings are provided in the front wall and the two legs of the same are disposed at such angle with respect to each other that the arc is diverted away from the ytop and bottom edges of the arc-chute opening.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a side view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of an arc-blow-out device .embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a top view, partially in section and partially-in plan, of the device shown in Fig. 1.

An arc chute 1 comprises, in generaL'side walls 2 and 3 constructed of asbestos, soapstone or other insulating material, and top 1 and bottom walls 4 and 5 which are disposed at an angle with respect to each other and similarly constructed of insulating material. The inner ends of the top and bottom walls 4 and 5 are separated and are disposed adjacent the contact members 6,

and 7 of the interruptervin connection with 'which the arc chute is to be used. 0r-

dinarily, magnet pole ieces (not shown) are disposed adjacent the side walls of the arc chute 1 for the purpose of propelling Vthe arc outwardly that is drawn when the contact members 6 and 7 separate.

When a device of this type is used, the

arc that is formed assumes substantially the v shape shown by the broken lines 8 in the drawing. In order to deflect the arc from the outer edges of the top and bottom walls 4 and 5, I provide a front wall 9 of soapstone or other similar insulating material having two portions 10 and 1l that are so disposed with respect to each other as to constitute a member of substantially V- shape. Openings 12 are provided in the member 9 to permit the rupture of the arc that is blown outwardly when thev contact members 6 and 7 separate.

As is shown in Fig. l, upon the se aration of the contact members 6.and the resultant arc stream moves successively outwardly from a path designated A, indicated by a dot-andldash line, to a path designated B. The magnetic pro elling ornblow-out force always act at right angles to the direction of flow in the arc stream'.

When the arc stream is in contact with -the several walls of the arc chute, the aro stream follows the path B, which closely angles to the surface 9, or in axial alinement with the openings 12.

The openings 12 in portions 10 and 11 angles to' the medial line of the arc c ute 1. The direction of the propelling force through the openings 12, in portions 10 and 11 of the wall 9, which are equi-distant'.

of the wall 9 are disposed at diver ent I from the medial line of the arc chute, -is such as to. create a tendency for the de" ilected arc streams to focus at a point on the'm'edial line of the arc chute,'but outside thereof. The result is that the portions of the arc stream which are blown through the portion 10 of the wall 9 are directedinto the same zone as are the portions of the are stream blown through the portion 11 of the wall 9. The arc stream thereafter continues to elongate itself until it breaks down by reason of the resistance of the atmosphere.

It will thus bel seen that have provided an arc chute in which the are stream is focused into a definite predetermined zone` V'as is Yshown by the dotanddasl1` line 13, v and is not permitted to' prolong itself indetions isposed an another and to t e top and bottom Walls,

nitely in a :radiai direction, as is shown by tlie. Y dotted line 8. The arrangement just prevents'the formation of the arc stream?4 across the outer ends of the walls 4 and 5, thus protecting them, as well as apparatus located adjacent thereto, from in- ]ruy invention is not limited to the specilc construction illustrated, as it may be variously modified Without departing from 'the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as m invention:

1. An arc c ute comprising side walls, top and bottom walls, and a partially enclosin front Wall composed of two seclarly with respect to one the remote ends of the said two sections abutting against the outer ends of the top and bottom walls, respectively, and the adjacent ends thereof extending toward the inner ends of the top and bottom .walls 2. In an arc chute, relatively movable contact members, and deflecting and guiding means for focusing the arc stream gensections meeting at an angle, and the said wall being provided with a plurality of openings therein, the axes of said openings converging externally of said are chute.

5. An arc chute comprising side-walll members, top and bottomwall members, and a iront Wall member having a plurality of openings therein, the axes ofsaid openings converging externally of said arc chute.

In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th-day of Dec.,

CHRISTIAN AALBORG. 

